1/4/18 Reflections

Summary:

  • Three things must happen simultaneously for success in Christ: 
  1. we have a revelation of our great inheritance in Him, 
  2. we walk according to Jesus’ Life within (i.e. the Holy Spirit), 
  3. we stand against attacks from without (i.e. Satanic forces).

Insights:

  • Eph. 1-2 – there is interplay between past and future tenses.  Past tense says we have been given all things.  Future tense says we have not yet received this inheritance.  Present tense = we have God’s Spirit as a downpayment that gives us a taste of what we will (future) receive, and guarantees that we will indeed receive all in full later.
  • Eph. 5:5 – coveting = idolatry (and bans us from Christ’s kingdom).  Wow!
  • Eph. 5:18-21 – being filled with the Spirit leads to: songs, thankfulness, attitudes of submission

For Brian to obey:

  • Place priority on empowering and raising up my wife and children in the Lord, above raising up others in the Lord (Eph. 5-6)
  • “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:18-19)